Turbulent and Compressible Flow Effects in a Hydraulic Power Steering Pump

A hydraulic steering pump system will be considered in this report. The objective is to investigate the turbulent and compressible flow effects in a specific power steering pump using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools.

The first part of this report deals with turbulent flow modeling. Heat transfer effects are also considered. A Reynolds Stress Model is used, showing a 10 % increase in peak temperature. Potential improvements in product design have been suggested.

The second part deals with compressible or variable density effects. An increase in temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 %, is observed due to compressibility. A rotating grid approach (basic moving mesh technique) is used in both parts. This provides a basis for investigating fluid acoustics in steering systems.